Study part time with New Era College: your partner in ongoing professional development
Issue #11: Taking on the challenge of a part time degree is a transformative decision that will change the direction of your career – and your personal life.
Dennis Montshiwa, Learning and Development Coordinator at Botswana Power Corporation, currently pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical & Electronics reflects on his journey of growth so far.
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Career advancement while earning
When you study part time, you learn and you earn at the same time.
‘I appreciate the ability to keep my career momentum high, while simultaneously upgrading my skills. I am deepening my understanding of engineering at New Era College – without the sacrifice of taking years out of the workforce and putting my career on hold,’ he says.
Market-relevant expertise
Employers often prioritise individuals who are continuously learning, which gives you a competitive edge to fast-track promotions or career transitions.
Montshiwa is confident in his choice: ‘I believe my additional qualification will open doors to new roles and responsibilities.’
Expanded professional network
Studying part time is the best way to connect with fellow students, professors, and industry experts who share your ambitions. These connections lead to new job opportunities, collaborations and a broader understanding of your industry.
‘I chose the right partner. At New Era College, I have nurtered a much stronger professional network which is inspiring me to grow,’ explains Montshiwa.
Personal fulfillment and growth
The sense of accomplishment that comes with earning a degree while managing other life responsibilities is immensely rewarding. It fosters resilience, builds confidence, and demonstrates to yourself and others that you can thrive in challenging environments.
‘Stay committed to your goals. This is no walk in the park: I have learned netter discipline and new time management skills. I now prioritise what really matters. My experience with New Era College shows that with the right mindset, you can make it happen,’ he smiles.
This solar energy model could work in Botswana
Decentralised renewable energy offers hope to the marginalised.
Bangladesh has one of the world’s largest solar home systems programs. Over 6 million of these mini solar power units have been installed in off-grid rural areas.
In 2018, Bangladesh introduced a net metering policy to allow households and businesses to generate electricity through rooftop solar panels and sell excess power back to the national grid. This encourages the use of solar energy and provides a financial incentive to consumers.
Stanford’s STORM takes AI a step further
Stanford University is using large language models to create well-organised, long-form articles similar to Wikipedia pages. They call it STORM — and it’s your personal research assistant.
Embarking on a long report or article can be challenging, simply because of information overload: researching the topic and outlining it can be overwhelming even to experienced writers because of the sheer volume of sources available.
To address this, Stanford has developed STORM, a system that discovers diverse perspectives, simulating a conversation between a Wikipedia writer and a topic expert to provide deeper insights, eliminate bias — and turn every research topic into a fully formed and finely polished gem.
Consumers are falling out of love with dating apps
It’s official: the novelty has worn off. Millennials have lost their appetite for dating apps, and Gen Z singles might not even bother.
Match Group, the company behind popular dating apps like Tinder, Hinge, and OkCupid, has seen its stock plummet to US$40 per share as of September this year, a sharp fall from its US$175 peak in October 2021.
According to the company's Q2 2024 earnings report, paying subscribers dropped by 5% year-on-year, with revenue growth slowing to just 2% compared to double-digit growth in previous years.
Analysts say that dating apps are struggling with user fatigue: users are becoming increasingly disillusioned with their superficial, appearance-based approach, feeling disconnected by the algorithm-driven matchmaking process.
Microsoft needs a nuclear plant to power its AI ambitions
Microsoft has signed a major deal with nuclear plant operator Constellation Energy to buy power for its data centers.
Microsoft has agreed to purchase all of the power from the reactor for the next 20 years, which promises a capacity of 835 megawatts once restored.
On the strength of this, Constellation plans to spend US$1.6 billion to revive its Three Mile Island Unit 1 nuclear plant in Pennsylvania, which was shut down in 2019 due to a lack of demand for nuclear energy.
Are you ready to become a globally empowered graduate?
Whether your passion lies in Engineering, Business, Science or Education, New Era College will open the world to you.